heavyweight energy firms rose sharply. meanwhile tokyo's nikkei fell for a second straight session. currencies now, the dollar dropped below that 102 yen level. as you can see trading at 101.80-84. market players are shifting their money into the japanese currency which sauchb bought in times of heightened risk. meanwhile traders are waiting to hear what the u.s. federal reserve chair janet yellen will say at her testimony to the senate committee later in the day. looking at the euro bottom of the screen, 139.03-06. yen is also being bought against the single currency. >>> australia's qantas airways says it's going to cut 5,000 jobs or 15% of its payroll as it struggles with higher costs. the australian flag carrier posted a loss of about $210 million u.s. dollars for the six months through december 2013. executives at the airline site higher fuel costs caused by the weak australian currency. qantas announced streamlining worth $1.8 billion over the next three years. the airliner will slash 5,000 jobs. it's also going to exit from underperforming roults and more than 50 aircraft wil